Match Reaction: Crystal Palace 2-2 Arsenal

[Master Splinter]

Ayew should have been off, Holding was mauled, Zaha dived, Palace fouled at will and Atkinson gets to referee another day.

Aside from that, both goals came from careless mistakes, firstly from Mustafi and then Lacazette.

The subs and game management was poor today too and it was all overly disjointed.

A point isn't terrible, but that it's down to a cheat of a referee that we could have overcome if not for sloppiness is just doubly annoying.

Despite being an emergency fourth-choice left-back, Xhaka, along with Holding and Torreira, was probably our best player. Contributed to both goals and was not really troubled.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

We weren't going to keep winning forever.

On to Blackpool we go. :bow:

[Marc Overmars]

Not a good performance really, despite the quick comeback I never really felt like we had that game under control. Palace made it difficult for us and lets face it, we were due a slip up.

Big one next weekend. Looking forward to seeing if we can shut this narrative up about not beating any decent teams.

[Dial Square Old Boy]

Not a good performance really, despite the quick comeback I never really felt like we had that game under control. Palace made it difficult for us and lets face it, we were due a slip up.

Big one next weekend. Looking forward to seeing if we can shut this narrative up about not beating any decent teams.

Agreed - the team and Emery should be angry at giving two penalties away and use that anger to build confidence in the next few games.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Palace made it a clusterfuck of a match, everybody chasing the ball, all the time. :lol:

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Don't expect us to beat Liverpool and was wrong about us winning today but I don't think beating Liverpool is the be all end all and progress is certainly being made.

I had had it with Mustafi last year never mind this year so just want to see him replaced. Felt the same way about Xhaka but he is slowly redeeming himself. Missed the equaliser as my stream went but gutted we dropped points.

Ayew should have been off.


Still looking forward to going to a cheap midweek game.

[SMatthews]

Can’t win them all. Done by a diving one trick pony cunt.

3 games in less than 6 days, two wins and a draw is good enough.

Xhaka can’t be blamed and generally making a decent job at a brand new role.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

First of all, great run by Emery and boys- in fact quite remarkable seeing the wretched set of defenders we have.

Back to the game, we were lucky to come out with a draw.

Iwobi was poor, his worst performance this season.

Torerria was below par, his worst performance this season.

Ozil does not need to start games with the way we are currently setup under Emery... It's a work in progress to find the Enery formation that suits his type.

Today also revealed how important Emery's subs have been to us in the past few games.

Now IMO the biggest mistake we made today was actually quite Wengeresque- starting all 3 holding midtielders with Xhaka as LB.

It's clear he rates all 3 of them (why he rates Xhaka is beyond me) but his indescion (Emery) cost us width on the left wing and at the end cost us a penalty no serious LB would give at such a crucial stage of the game.

Why I called it Wengeresque was it reminded me of what AW use to do with all the slow passing midfielders he rated so highly and because of indescion would end up filling our midfield and attack with the same type leading to a disjointed game with silly short passes, no width, and having to pass through the eye of a needle to score.

The similarity was that we were disjointed today and not looking threatening at all.

I am not blaming Xhaka for this result, as a lot of people let us down today, but I strongly believe playing a fit again AMN and only 2 holding Midtielders would have left us more balanced.

Oh well, it's best to get the monkey off our back before Liverpool.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Not a good performance really, despite the quick comeback I never really felt like we had that game under control. Palace made it difficult for us and lets face it, we were due a slip up.

Big one next weekend. Looking forward to seeing if we can shut this narrative up about not beating any decent teams.

You are right, we never controlled the game, not at any point.

I think it was mainly due to Iwobi being poor and that Ozil cannot impose himself on games any more. I know Mhki has been poor the last few games, but he syncs far better with Iwobi and Auba than Ozil ever has.

Again if we had effective wingplay in this game from both the RB and LB positions it would have helped.

Also an early goal but thats asking for to much with this team.
.
Lacazette really needs to learn how to pass, he's doing my head in with this part of his game.

[Globalgunner]

.

Good post

[Özim]

Not a great result today but the run was always going to end at some point and it brings a bit more of the reality into focus, Emery has done a decent job with what he's got to work with, but in truth this is largely that sub-standard squad left over by the previous manager and we need a few new faces before we realistically can be expected to get back up there.

Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea are better than us and it'll be a battle for 4th with Spurs for us and it'll be tough to get 4th.

Been a good run whilst it lasted, my only criticism is our inability to get going in the 1st half in all games, we've not been ahead at half time in any game in the league this season and today again we just didn't perform and Palace were the better side, not really sure why but we need to address this.

On balance of play a draw was a fair result, we got a goal that shouldn't have been and maybe they got a penalty that shouldn't have as well.

[Marc Overmars]

I thought Guendouzi in particular was well below par and I'm not sure why he got to play out the 90 mins. He has a lot of potential but I think he needs to learn to deal with being pressed a bit better and physically he isn't quite ready for the shit kickers this league has in it. 19 years old though, so don't want to be too harsh on him.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I thought Palaces back line were very vulnerable to the press....but seeing as we don't really press hard from the top anymore consistently since the first few games... we never really used it to our advantage today.

I assumed AMN isn't quite ready, otherwise I have no idea why he wasn't involved in today's squad or against Lisbon as he is better at left back than everyone apart from Monreal.

Can't be too harsh on Xhaka as I haven't seen his tackle and what can I expect of an immobile defensively suspect midfielder playing at left back to do against players like Zaha and Townsend.

[Globalgunner]

The player we need in midfield is Arturo Vidal currently languishing on Barcas bench. We have no control in midfield and ask too much of Torriera. Xhaka gives us nothing and Guendozi has much to learn..Sorry to come over all NQ

[Master Splinter]

Now IMO the biggest mistake we made today was actually quite Wengeresque- starting all 3 holding midtielders with Xhaka as LB.

It's clear he rates all 3 of them (why he rates Xhaka is beyond me) but his indescion (Emery) cost us width on the left wing and at the end cost us a penalty no serious LB would give at such a crucial stage of the game.

Why I called it Wengeresque was it reminded me of what AW use to do with all the slow passing midfielders he rated so highly and because of indescion would end up filling our midfield and attack with the same type leading to a disjointed game with silly short passes, no width, and having to pass through the eye of a needle to score.

The similarity was that we were disjointed today and not looking threatening at all.

I am not blaming Xhaka for this result, as a lot of people let us down today, but I strongly believe playing a fit again AMN and only 2 holding Midtielders would have left us more balanced.


AMN just returned from injury and played for the U23s on Friday.

We have every full-back apart from Lichtsteiner out at the moment and even back-ups like AMN and a kid like Osei-Tutu are injured.

It's just one of those horrible situations you can't really blame on anyone.

It would be ridiculous if they're all still unavailable next weekend.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Okay....didn't realise AMN was playing Friday but he really needs to be phased back in pronto. He has the sort of nous and ability to just nick the ball away from that Olympic diving little twirp Zaha and the Athleticism to keep up with him.

[Penguin]

The other thing about Xhaka at LB is that he hardly ever overlaps when we're attacking. That might be a good thing defensively because there's no way he could get back in time if we lose the ball, but in attack we had no width on the left at all. When is Monreal due back?

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Good post

Yeah, I thought so too.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

AMN just returned from injury and played for the U23s on Friday.

We have every full-back apart from Lichtsteiner out at the moment and even back-ups like AMN and a kid like Osei-Tutu are injured.

It's just one of those horrible situations you can't really blame on anyone.

It would be ridiculous if they're all still unavailable next weekend.

Well I noticed his name for Thursdays game and I assumed he was fit.

I can't remember it ever being this bad with defenders in Arsenal. Don't rate any defensively minded player we have except Torriera. Heard he was a LB or something like that in his former life.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Well I noticed his name for Thursdays game and I assumed he was fit.

I can't remember it ever being this bad with defenders in Arsenal. Don't rate any defensively minded player we have except Torriera. Heard he was a LB or something like that in his former life.

I was wrong. Apparently he started off as a striker, wow!!

[Mac76]

AMN just returned from injury and played for the U23s on Friday.

We have every full-back apart from Lichtsteiner out at the moment and even back-ups like AMN and a kid like Osei-Tutu are injured.

It's just one of those horrible situations you can't really blame on anyone.

It would be ridiculous if they're all still unavailable next weekend.

all of a sudden it's like the Liverpool game couldn't come at a worse time :(

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I place far less importance on the Liverpool game than many. Winning it is a massive confidence boost but it doesn't suddenly mean we will be title contenders. Either way we are on the right track of progression even though we are isolating one game and placing extra importance on it. A draw is a little meh and losing it just reaffirms they are a better team and we are still capable of losing (which I don't think anybody has lost sight of).

It has special significance because we want to feel like we can compete in the biggest games, but the last several league games tells us more than the next isolated game does and we are definitely progressing.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

On a different note....I thought the away fans were fuhking superb. All I could hear was our fans all game. Nicely done lads!

[Marc Overmars]

I place far less importance on the Liverpool game than many. Winning it is a massive confidence boost but it doesn't suddenly mean we will be title contenders. Either way we are on the right track of progression even though we are isolating one game and placing extra importance on it. A draw is a little meh and losing it just reaffirms they are a better team and we are still capable of losing (which I don't think anybody has lost sight of).

It has special significance because we want to feel like we can compete in the biggest games, but the last several league games tells us more than the next isolated game does and we are definitely progressing.

Even if we beat Liverpool I don’t think we’ll be anywhere near challenging for the title, but wins against the other teams that make up the top 6 have been pretty rare of late. Would like to go into these games knowing we can take points off them rather than think not winning is a forgone conclusion.

United and Spurs back to back at the start of December will probably be more telling.

[Letters]

I'd be amazed if we beat (or even draw with) Liverpool.
I don't think we learned anything yesterday. We've been sloppy at the back during this run of wins, some of those wins could easily have been draws.
Overall I'm enjoying the way we're playing, I'm not expecting miracles this year.
I think our squad is good enough to challenge for the top 4, not the title. That's my benchmark this season although I wouldn't be #EmeryOut if we don't finish top 4 as he needs some time.
We seem to be heading in the right direction and that's enough, for now.

[AFC Leveller]

Having Xhaka at LB provides balance but as a defender he is hopeless and cannot tackle for toffee. We need Monteal back for the Liverpool game, last thing we want is Xhaka up against Salah and Mane.

I thought we should have pushed more for a 3rd goal, the longer it stayed 2-1 the more nervous we looked. Zaha is a diving cunt who does it every fucking week, nothing new there.

Liverpool will be a really tough game, they will punish any mistake we make, plus they have a good defence this year as well.

[Özim]

Pretty happy right now, we're moving in the right direction, some players are showing signs of improvement and given that's he's only been here a few months and has has to work with the squad he largely inherited he's done well.

Not sure why we can't seem to get going in the 1st half at all, that's a bit concerning, we could easily have lost a few of those we won had the teams we played against taken their chances.

[Marc Overmars]

Having Xhaka at LB provides balance but as a defender he is hopeless and cannot tackle for toffee. We need Monteal back for the Liverpool game, last thing we want is Xhaka up against Salah and Mane.

I thought we should have pushed more for a 3rd goal, the longer it stayed 2-1 the more nervous we looked. Zaha is a diving cunt who does it every fucking week, nothing new there.

Liverpool will be a really tough game, they will punish any mistake we make, plus they have a good defence this year as well.

I think we were trying to push for a third but things just weren’t sticking in the final third. Lacazette had an off day, his hold up play wasn’t as sharp as it usually is and Iwobi looked poor. Ozil was also ineffective but that shouldn’t really surprise anyone despite his performance against Leicester.

On another day we could have killed off that game after the quick turnaround but we were sloppy and Palace in fairness didn’t give up and made it really difficult for us.

Just one of those days.

[selassie]

I thought we did well to get a point yesterday, for long periods of the game Palace were the better team and caused us a lot of problems. They gave us the run around first half if we are honest and should have been 2 or 3 up.

I think one positive from yesterday is the way we dug ourselves out of a hole and came back into the game, games like this last season were 100% losses.

For me the Liverpool game next week is pretty much a write-off, I think they are too strong for us in every area and will cause our defence major problems.

Considering last season and the way we have started the season I don't think it is unreasonable to think we will have to play at our highest level to achieve a top 4 finish. I do still think we are arguably the 5th or 6th best team in the league so finishing above either place will be a decent achievement.

Like others have said, I think City and Liverpool are the strongest teams in the league and a level above us. I think Chelsea are slightly better than us and if I'm being brutally honest, Spurs marginally better than us. United I am not sure about, they have had a horrid season so far but I wouldn't be surprised if they catch us up.

It's not all doom though as I think Emery is exceeding expectations and once he has his team we will be a consistent top 4 challenger / side.

[IBK]

I'd be amazed if we beat (or even draw with) Liverpool.
I don't think we learned anything yesterday. We've been sloppy at the back during this run of wins, some of those wins could easily have been draws.
Overall I'm enjoying the way we're playing, I'm not expecting miracles this year.
I think our squad is good enough to challenge for the top 4, not the title. That's my benchmark this season although I wouldn't be #EmeryOut if we don't finish top 4 as he needs some time.
We seem to be heading in the right direction and that's enough, for now.

Pretty much. A point when we were 2 - 1 up felt a bit dsappointing, but a timely reminder of where we were.

Re Liverpool - important to remember that Klopp has now had 3 years to get to where Liverpool are now. Emery has had 3 months. I would be delighted with a point.

[selassie]

Pretty much. A point when we were 2 - 1 up felt a bit dsappointing, but a timely reminder of where we were.

Re Liverpool - important to remember that Klopp has now had 3 years to get to where Liverpool are now. Emery has had 3 months. I would be delighted with a point.

Yep, he has spent a lot of money too. Though to be fair money recouped from the sale of Coutinho.

Emery definitely needs a couple of seasons to shape "his" team, he is doing very well so far considering what he has to work with.

I'd be delighted with a point too for the Liverpool game.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Won't be delighted with a point at Liveprool, mostly because it will be two measly points in a row haven got used to winning for a while but of course a point against a team that good is not bad.

Mustafi is one of the few under performing players Emery hasn't dropped though and I really am waiting for him to smell the coffee on him..... absinthe, crack or whatever the hell Mustafi is smoking before games.

AMN needs to be in the squad Wednesday and phased in as a matter of urgency.

I thought in real time Zaha was actually fouled and even on the first few replays at the angle I saw from, but Xhaka needs to be way smarter than allowing an infamous diver like Zaha to mug him off like that....wherever he is playing on the field.

[Mac76]

Despite being an emergency fourth-choice left-back, Xhaka, along with Holding and Torreira, was probably our best player. Contributed to both goals and was not really troubled.

You mean apart from giving away a penalty?

[Globalgunner]

Arseblog did a pretty insightful analysis of our defensive deficiencies yesterday and apart from the obvious failings of actually giving away the pens showed where we lack in-game craft to thwart impending danger. Mustafi( again) had 2 opportunities to foul the Palace player bearing down into our box. Mustafio basically escorted him from the centrefield right into the penalty box. This is the cynical know how that all the other top 6 teams have in abundance but which we at Arsenal have lacked since 2006. No way do you win big prizes being as juvenile as we are playing the game. With us its all about technique whereas the mendacity displayed against us by every other team with rotational fouling etc is eschewed for some reason. Our midfield is still weak. Torriera needs someone else alongside him that can snuff danger out. Otherwise it will still be the nearly there story season after season

[selassie]

Arseblog did a pretty insightful analysis of our defensive deficiencies yesterday and apart from the obvious failings of actually giving away the pens showed where we lack in-game craft to thwart impending danger. Mustafi( again) had 2 opportunities to foul the Palace player bearing down into our box. Mustafio basically escorted him from the centrefield right into the penalty box. This is the cynical know how that all the other top 6 teams have in abundance but which we at Arsenal have lacked since 2006. No way do you win big prizes being as juvenile as we are playing the game. With us its all about technique whereas the mendacity displayed against us by every other team with rotational fouling etc is eschewed for some reason. Our midfield is still weak. Torriera needs someone else alongside him that can snuff danger out. Otherwise it will still be the nearly there story season after season

100% agree with this, especially the part I highlighted.

Our Midfield whilst better is still not right, we absolutely need another partner next to Torreira, a similar kind of player IMO.

[fakeyank]

I think Wilshere or Cazorla would have been a great fit next to Torreira. Unfortunately both of them are dead. For now, I think Torreira and Guendozi should be the first choice holding midfielders. Xhaka is a sub or still him to LB for slow immobile teams. For quick teams like Liverpool or city, I'd rather we have Monreal there.

[Master Splinter]

You mean apart from giving away a penalty?

You mean when Zaha jumped into his leg and was given a penalty because the officiating and rules in this game are pathetic?

[GP]

You mean when Zaha jumped into his leg and was given a penalty because the officiating and rules in this game are pathetic?

This. It was a clear dive.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Only crumb of comfort is that we have focused eyes on him and at some stage he will be legitimately fouled and not get a pen or be booked for diving. I'll give it to him, he sold it pretty good.

Had Xhaka just quickly jerked his leg out and straight back in almost like a bionic leg it would have showed Zaha for the diving little shit he is to everybody including the ref in real time and first time.

[Master Splinter]

Even though they've been better in recent weeks, the worst thing about Xhaka and Mustafi is that they're a bit thick. They have no street smarts on the pitch. Mustafi especially always seems to go for the wrong option in any pressure situation.

Considering we've moved on from Wenger and we're still being punished by cheating players and refs each week, the biggest improvement Emery could make to the team is implementing the tactical fouling United, Chelsea, Spufs and now Citeh have always gotten away with. That, and buying some scumbags like Ramos, Alli, Big Man and Busquets that are immune to the rules. Oh, and also make sure Lacazette and others throw themselves violently to the ground when they feel any contact rather than trying to play on.

Being a cunt is obviously rewarded greatly in this sport so it's time to embrace it.

[Mac76]

You mean when Zaha jumped into his leg and was given a penalty because the officiating and rules in this game are pathetic?

You mean when Xhaka left his leg in the way in the penalty area and admitted on MOTD it was a penalty?

Yes that's right - don't let your support blind you my friend, if it had been the other way round you'd be saying it was a stonewall penalty..

[Mac76]

This. It was a clear dive.

It was a clear piece of clumsiness from Xhaka that proves he's not up to it, one good free kick doesn't forgive his uselessness at defending or the number of times he gives the ball away, or all the corners and freekicks he messes up, he's not good enough and along with Mustafi should be shipped out

[Master Splinter]

You mean when Xhaka left his leg in the way in the penalty area and admitted on MOTD it was a penalty?

Yes that's right - don't let your support blind you my friend, if it had been the other way round you'd be saying it was a stonewall penalty..

Well, we've already established Xhaka is stupid.

And support doesn't blind me, I have never considered jumping into players worthy of a penalty. However, now that all the officials, pundits and yourself have deemed it as such, I think it's entirely fair that we should be given one in the same situation. But it would still be ridiculous.

[GP]

It was a clear piece of clumsiness from Xhaka that proves he's not up to it, one good free kick doesn't forgive his uselessness at defending or the number of times he gives the ball away, or all the corners and freekicks he messes up, he's not good enough and along with Mustafi should be shipped out

None of that changes the fact that it was a dive.

[SMatthews]

Xhaka has done well the whole week after playing two and a half games in a brand new position. Wasn’t shown up at all in any of the games. Lacazette and Mustafi left him isolated with a player a huge reputation for diving who made the most out of minimal contact.

[Mac76]

None of that changes the fact that it was a dive.

i don't think it was dive as such, it was just one of those situations where many on here say people like Laca etc should perhaps be ore willing to go down, but instead just stumble and lose the ball but don't get the decison

i don't blame Zaha he gets a real kicking a lot of the time and refs don't give any way like enough cards against those who do it, so if a clumsy idiot like Xhaka gives him a decent chance of a penalty good for him

[dazthegooner]

Just seen on Skysports Zaha has said he received racist comments and death threats after the game not good...

[GP]

Should stop diving then...

[Penguin]

It's a dive but if you commit to a tackle or leave a leg hanging out in the box you're asking them to play for a penalty. Players like Zaha, Hazard, Robben will take the bait every time. We should know better by now.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Just seen on Skysports Zaha has said he received racist comments and death threats after the game not good...

A lot of idiots on the internet hiding behind pc's unfortunately.

[Letters]

We'd have all been calling for penalties had our players gone down like that on both penalty incidents.
The second one wasn't a dive in the sense that he wasn't touched and just took a dive, you could argue he "looked for it" but lots of players do in that situation.
No real complaints about either pel.

[WMUG]

Also Xhaka's not a left back, so criticism of him for that incident is pretty harsh imo.

[Mac76]

We'd have all been calling for penalties had our players gone down like that on both penalty incidents.
The second one wasn't a dive in the sense that he wasn't touched and just took a dive, you could argue he "looked for it" but lots of players do in that situation.
No real complaints about either pel.

:gp:

[Penguin]

Also Xhaka's not a left back, so criticism of him for that incident is pretty harsh imo.

He plays as a deep CM so he should know better than to lunge in on someone inside the box. If he did his research he would know to be especially careful against Zaha. It's not the first time he has given away a clumsy penalty.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Zaha’a antics isnt exactly something that needs special research neither lol...